Asheville should join river effort

Published: Thursday, March 28, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, March 27, 2013 at 7:04 p.m.

Asheville should join Hendersonville in contributing matching funds so the Mills River Partnership can qualify for a $200,000 EPA grant to help protect this important regional drinking water source.

The grants and local match would fund “best management practices” to help protect water quality in the Mills River. These include planting vegetated stream buffers and cover crops, reducing tillage, and other erosion control measures projected to keep 925 tons of topsoil out of the river.

Hendersonville staff has proposed raising water rates 4 cents per 1,000 gallons used to help fund the effort. The change would add less than a dollar to the bill of most residential users, although larger commercial users would pay more. City Council has agreed to support the project but has not yet determined how to pay for it. Meanwhile, Asheville, which is grappling with the state to keep control of its water system, has not yet promised any funds.

The Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy, working with the Mills River Partnership, has asked Hendersonville for $66,125 a year for two years, a total of $132,250. Raising water rates 4 cents would generate that amount, Utilities Director Lee Smith says. Council is set to discuss the issue at a budget retreat May 17.

The conservancy is seeking about $180,000 in matches for a $200,000 federal grant to fund the project. The aim is to halt increasing sedimentation and erosion that threatens to put Mills River back on a state list of impaired waterways. The funds would also pay for educational programs on soil and water conservation and the salary of a watershed coordinator to direct these efforts. The conservancy recently received a $10,000 grant from the N.C. Clean Water Management Trust Fund to assist with watershed planning and is looking for other funding sources, Executive Director Kieran Roe says.

Hats off to the conservancy for spearheading this important drive to protect water quality. The Mills River Partnership was originally formed after testing in the late 1990s showed a dramatic decline in the health of the river. Working together, state and local regulators, landowners and organizations protected 192 acres with conservation easements, planted 8 acres of buffers, restored 4,700 feet of stream banks and built facilities to safely handle farm chemicals.

The Mills River provides high-quality drinking water for 50,000 taps through the Hendersonville and Asheville water systems. To be sure, customers of the Hendersonville water system are the primary beneficiaries. But Henderson County, Asheville and the whole region benefit from having a high-quality water source — a clear mountain stream that supports trout, wildlife and recreation.

Hendersonville must determine if raising water rates is the best way to fund the program. Asheville should follow Hendersonville’s lead and contribute a meaningful sum.

It would be remiss to discuss water quality without mentioning the efforts of the more than 40 volunteers who monitor 26 stream sites across the county for the Environmental and Conservation Organization’s long-running effort. State budget cuts have weakened the Division of Water Quality’s ability to monitor stream health. These volunteers are performing an important community service and deserve our thanks and support.

<p>Asheville should join Hendersonville in contributing matching funds so the Mills River Partnership can qualify for a $200,000 EPA grant to help protect this important regional drinking water source.</p><p>The grants and local match would fund best management practices to help protect water quality in the Mills River. These include planting vegetated stream buffers and cover crops, reducing tillage, and other erosion control measures projected to keep 925 tons of topsoil out of the river.</p><p>Hendersonville staff has proposed raising water rates 4 cents per 1,000 gallons used to help fund the effort. The change would add less than a dollar to the bill of most residential users, although larger commercial users would pay more. City Council has agreed to support the project but has not yet determined how to pay for it. Meanwhile, Asheville, which is grappling with the state to keep control of its water system, has not yet promised any funds.</p><p>The Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy, working with the Mills River Partnership, has asked Hendersonville for $66,125 a year for two years, a total of $132,250. Raising water rates 4 cents would generate that amount, Utilities Director Lee Smith says. Council is set to discuss the issue at a budget retreat May 17.</p><p>The conservancy is seeking about $180,000 in matches for a $200,000 federal grant to fund the project. The aim is to halt increasing sedimentation and erosion that threatens to put Mills River back on a state list of impaired waterways. The funds would also pay for educational programs on soil and water conservation and the salary of a watershed coordinator to direct these efforts. The conservancy recently received a $10,000 grant from the N.C. Clean Water Management Trust Fund to assist with watershed planning and is looking for other funding sources, Executive Director Kieran Roe says.</p><p>Hats off to the conservancy for spearheading this important drive to protect water quality. The Mills River Partnership was originally formed after testing in the late 1990s showed a dramatic decline in the health of the river. Working together, state and local regulators, landowners and organizations protected 192 acres with conservation easements, planted 8 acres of buffers, restored 4,700 feet of stream banks and built facilities to safely handle farm chemicals.</p><p>The Mills River provides high-quality drinking water for 50,000 taps through the Hendersonville and Asheville water systems. To be sure, customers of the Hendersonville water system are the primary beneficiaries. But Henderson County, Asheville and the whole region benefit from having a high-quality water source  a clear mountain stream that supports trout, wildlife and recreation.</p><p>Hendersonville must determine if raising water rates is the best way to fund the program. Asheville should follow Hendersonville’s lead and contribute a meaningful sum.</p><p>It would be remiss to discuss water quality without mentioning the efforts of the more than 40 volunteers who monitor 26 stream sites across the county for the Environmental and Conservation Organization’s long-running effort. State budget cuts have weakened the Division of Water Quality’s ability to monitor stream health. These volunteers are performing an important community service and deserve our thanks and support.</p>